Property tax hearing attendance rule updated

Lawmakers approved a measure Feb. 5 intended to increase accountability for local governments seeking to raise property taxes.

The Property Tax Request Act, passed by the Legislature in 2021, requires counties, cities and school districts to participate in a joint public hearing before increasing their property tax request by more than an allowable growth percentage. Affected taxpayers are notified of the hearings via pink postcards.

Previously, at least one elected official — or a designated representative — from each participating political subdivision was required to attend the hearing.

LB384, introduced last year by Whitman Sen. Tanya Storer, instead requires the attendance of at least one voting member of the governing body of each participating political subdivision. The measure also requires the county assessor of the county hosting the hearing to attend.

The bill passed on a vote of 49-0.